PM wins over voters at polite pub forum

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has faced the people at a suburban Melbourne forum, more akin to a polite dinner party than a fiery debate.

Around 100 undecided voters filed into the Burvale Hotel, a Nunawading pub complete with pool tables and an $11 'Parma & Pot Deal' every Wednesday. The pub is in the nation's second most marginal seat of Deakin.

Marriage equality, education funding and superannuation featured prominently, but Ms Gillard was not heckled and voices weren't raised.

The prime minister believes marriage is between a man and a woman and last year voted against proposed changes to the marriage act in federal parliament that would have supported same-sex marriage.

"My view's pretty well known and I'm not seeking to impose my view on anybody," she said.

Federal parliament's response to a bill to change the marriage act was to vote it down 98-42, despite heavy lobbying by gay groups and some MPs.

Labor MPs were allowed a conscience vote on the issue, while Liberal MPs followed the party line and the majority opposed it outright.